Captain Richard L. Fagenstrom O-550931
Captain Richard “Dick” Leroy Fagenstrom O550931 was born on November 13, 1921, in Great Falls, Montana. He was the son of Joseph Nathaniel Fagenstrom and Myrtle Josephine Moe Fagenstrom. He graduated from Great Falls High School and attended Montana State College before entering the US Army. At the time of his enlistment, he was 5 foot 9 inches tall weighed 165 pounds he had brown hair and hazel eyes.
He did OCS at Fort Benning Ga. and received his commission on June 6, 1944. He entered H Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division on June 19, 1944. He entered G Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division on July 13, 1944. He went overseas with G Company served as the platoon leader of 4th Platoon the heavy weapons platoon.
On February 17, 1945 after G Company had taken three wooded areas Lt. Fagenstrom perfected the positions of his supporting weapons Platoon; and during the enemy counter-attack which followed, moved from position to position, advising and helping his men to get the maximum effect from fire delivered by the weapons platoon. In so doing he exposed himself to continuous enemy artillery, Mortar and small arm fire.
He took command of G Company on April 4, 1945 when the Company Commander Captain Melville C. LaForce was killed in action. At the time he took command of the company he was 23 years old. 1st Lt Fagenstrom served as the Company Commander during some of the company hardest fighting of the war. On April 4, and 5, 1945 his company defended hill 233. On April 6, he and his company took the town of Buchhof, on April 8, he fought for Lobenbacherhof and Stine. On April 8, he was wounded in the shoulder. It is unknown who took command after Lt. Fagenstrom was wounded but most of the officers were wounded on the 8th and 9th resulting in Lt. Frank C Rose, to take command of G Company on April 9th during the attack on Stine.
When Lt. Fagenstrom got out of the hospital he was assigned to F Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division he served in F Company until July 26, 1945 when he was transferred to the 100th Infantry Division. He was discharged on Aug. 20, 1946. He was awarded the Bronze Stare Medal with V and Oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart Medal with Oak leaf cluster, The American Theater of operations Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal with two battle stars. the World War Two Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.
He married Joy Eileen Walker Fagenstrom on July 27, 1946, in Basin, Wyoming. They had five children during their marriage. Dick returned to Bozeman and got his Industrial Engineering degree in 1947. Upon completion, he worked for a few years for his father with the Fagenstrom Company in Great Falls doing construction. Their oldest daughter, Jane, was born during this time. In 1948, looking for some adventure, he and Joy moved to California, where he worked as an industrial engineer for several years. They then moved to Manderson, Wyo., where they raised sugar beets and cattle for 10 years. Four more children, Nancy, Susan, Janis and Joe joined the family. In 1964, the family moved to Great Falls, where he worked for Equitable Life Assurance Society. In 1970, they moved to Eastport, Idaho, where he worked as a customs officer until he retired in 1986. For several years, he and Joy enjoyed traveling between their homes in Arizona and Northern Idaho. In 1999, they made their permanent home in Surprise Arizona. Dick was a lifelong learner and teacher. He bought a computer in 1980, knowing that they were the wave of the future and enjoyed keeping up-to-date with current technology. He enjoyed playing golf, woodworking and playing bridge. He was an awesome pianist and loved sharing his skills with others. He died on December 23, 2006, in Surprise, Arizona, at the age of 85, and was buried in Phoenix, Arizona.
63rd Infantry Division General Order number 99
63rd Division records
The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Arizona · Sunday, December 31, 2006
the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
April 1945 Clipping from Online resorce Grave Tag’r on 24 Jul 2021,
Photo from online resource A Marine’s Daughter on 01 Jan 2007
the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
The Montana Standard Butte, Montana · Sunday, August 25, 1946
the Wyoming, U.S., State and County Marriage Records, 1869-1972
the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
